TRAI: ‘Per Second Pulse Rate’ Tariff Plan Is Mandatory For Service Providers

Another feather in cap of the “Telecom Regulatory Authority of India” (TRAI); the telecom regulator has issued an order for every telecom operators to ensure at least one tariff plan in each circle for both post-paid and pre-paid subscribers across the country. The authority has mandated “per second pulse rate” for all local and national calls and also put an ceiling on calls and SMS meant for content and games participation.

It quite worthy to note that the ‘per-second billing’ tariff plan was initiated by new entrants such as Tata Docomo and Uninor in order to lure a large numbers of folks across the country, but who knows that it has now become a standard tariff, mandated by telecom regulator across the country.

Now, subscribers will have to pay an actual amount for their usages rather than the fixed rate levied by the operators. Since at present majority of subscribers are more willing to have such plan, so that, TRAI has incredible taken a move in order to ensure this tariff plan an alternative option for all subscribers. At present, 25 tariffs plans are being offered by different operators across the country.

In context of Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO), TRAI said, “Keeping in view the fact that calls and SMS made for participating in competition and voting hardly contain any content, the authority has mandated that the tariff for such calls and SMS shall not exceed four times of the applicable local call/SMS charges. The authority has decided to increase the ceiling on processing fee on top up vouchers to Rs.3 from Rs.2 in respect of top-up vouchers having a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs.20 and above and to continue with the existing ceiling of Rs.2 in respect of top up vouchers having MRP of less than Rs.20.”

However, TRAI has excluded premium services like helpline services, ringtones, gaming and many more from mandatory. According to TRAI, these services are being significantly more charged by operators in comparison to the normal tariff since charges have also included the price of contents, which are being offered in premium services by operators in the country.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has excluded operators concerning of ILD (international Long Distance) call rates, which comes under the 43rd Amendment of Tariffs Protection Plan. The amendment provides flexibility to service providers to make its own decision in ILD tariff irrespective of subscribers types (whether they are new or existing subscribers).